Sprint introduces Airave

Sprint announced that the Samsung Airave will be available on August 17th for $99.99. The Airave is a fematocell- a mini cell tower- that creates signal using the customer's broadband connection, meaning that everyone can have perfect reception in their home or office. The Airave will be the first commercially available fematocell in the U.S. Customers purchasing the Airave will be charged $4.99/month; for an additional $10 for individuals or $20 for families customers will be able to make unlimited calls when connected to the Airave. Customers on an unlimited plan will not be charged the additional fee. The Airave is a similar solution to T-Mobile's Hotspot@Home, but it is compatible with any Sprint CDMA device since it actually creates a signal instead of handling calls over Wi-Fi. The Airave is ready to use out of the box; the customer simply plugs it in and hooks it up to their broadband connection.

16. (unregistered)

34. (unregistered)

In theory, this is a great idea. However, I have Sprint and I have been after them to upgrade our signal near our home ever since we signed 2 yrs ago. They have done nothing to upgrade anything and now our signal levels away from home in the local area have dropped also. Furthermore, I now have even less roaming reception in the rural areas than I had 2 yrs ago, making my Sprint phone useless in small towns. Other carriers have built new towers less than one mile from my home in the last yr.
I feel insulted for Sprint to ask me pay extra each month just to pick up a better signal at home using my own equipment. What's wrong with that picture? Why should I stay with Sprint? I am looking for answers as to why I shouldn't switch to another carrier after next month and have found absolutely nothing in support of Sprint.

I wonder if this works through any broadband connection such as cable or just via Sprint's broadband cards. Because if it only works throught Sprint's air cards then there wouldn't be that much of an increase in reception if your are in a place and receive poor reception. I like the idea of the device though.
Will it require a WiFi capable phone to get the unlimited calling?

3.DamonO (unregistered)

2. szaldana
This will work with ANY Sprint phone. ANY Sprint phone can be put on an Unlimited calling plan that includes Unlimited Text/Picture/Video for $89.99 month. ANY Sprint phone can also be put on Sprint's Simply Everything Plan that included Unlimited Minutes/Text/Picture/Video/Email/Web/TV/Music/GPS Navigation/Email for $99.99 month.
This will work with any BROADBAND connection. You do not have to have a Sprint wireless aircard.

4.joeMOMA (unregistered)

15.AG (unregistered)

17. (unregistered)

lol, i love this guy. Sprint has the fastest data connection available through EVDO rev. a. The most user customizable interface, the best digital coverage, and this punk wants to say it's a last ditch effort. I work for AT&T and they have nowhere close to the bandwidth of Sprint. Sprint's customer service sucks but the network is untouichable...

22. (unregistered)

If sprint is coming out with this device, then obviously they are in desperate need for an improved connection before their churn reaches 10.0, Verizon is the only company that can provide awesome service anywhere without having to pay 100 for some bs device that will connect you at home. We are talking about "mobile phones" here, and if I want better reception at my house (for those unfortunate souls that signed a sprint contract) then I would just use the house phone.

24. (unregistered)

Is it really obvious? Or could it be that having this device gives Sprint an edge when it comes to the consumer who has trouble getting a signal indoors? I have a friend who can't get a signal from Sprint OR Verizon at his place (as much as Verizon would like you to believe they don't have any dead spots, apparently they exsist). He hates his AT&T and when he hears about this, guess how quickly he'll be at his local Sprint store? It's a solution for SOME customers.
As for house phones, did you stop to think that with this option, many Sprint customers would be able to ELIMINATE their land lines? Wow! All of a sudden that hundred bucks is looking like a wise investment for a lot of people.
It's ok to love your precious Verizon, but to come on here and make idiotic statements based on your dislike for Sprint and nothing else is pretty sad.

36. (unregistered)

The best deal is pre-paid?
Wow what are you smoking? Can you share?
Honestly prepaid you pay out the ass for in the long run. Minute rates are normally higher. The best deal is finding a plan with a wireless company that has unlimited calling like a My Circle concept where you can change at anytime.
In MY PERSONAL opinion thats your best bet.

31.CellDilbert (unregistered)

40.sprint is the real hater (unregistered)

Sprint does suck. Their billing sucks, the coverage sucks and beyond anything their CS sucks more then any company I've ever called. I've had (yes had) to file two BBBs against them before they fixed my billing. Guess what they screw it up every other month. THey'll rape for $500 of termination fee so i'm stuck. I'm afraid to call them because last time I did they renewed my contract without my consent.

8. (unregistered)

9. (unregistered)

19. (unregistered)

It won't happen. "the Network" will continue it's pathetic advertising ploy to drive new customer while it's user interface cripples every handset it sells and they never offer any true pricing deals. Sprint has 7-7 free, At&T has rollover, and even the Nazi T-mobile has myFaves but all you get with Verizon is some faggot stalking you and asking "can you hear me now?" The glory of uneducated rich people and their love for commercials

26.Soul0ne (unregistered)

37.C-Chicki (unregistered)

Honestly when the merger goes through with Alltel I would be shocked if they got rid of Alltel's My Circle .
But you talk about Verizon like its some horrible poor service company, they dont have poor service, just highly prices

10.Mortis (unregistered)

I wonder what the implications of using something like this outside of company's license area is. In a sense, it expand a company's coverage area anywhere high speed internet is available. Too, I wonder if you have to register your phone with it. Otherwise, all of your neighbors would be using up your internet bandwith as well while they enjoy the unlimited calling at home.

27.BigKippa (unregistered)

You can only use it in the U.S. or places where Sprint already has service. The device has a GPS chip in it that locates where you are and determines whether or not you can use the device. You can't move to China and use it, although that would be pretty cool.

21. (unregistered)

You cant have a WEP key unless the device has IEEE 802.11 IE Wireless/Wifi. Most sprint handsets do not have wifi simply because of rev. a so i doubt it will be password protected but more or less be limited to how many singnals it can connect at once.

28.sheeraz (unregistered)

29.Ryann21 (unregistered)

RE:17 Obviously you have no idea what your talking about. EVDO-rev.a is fast but HSPA+ is a little bit faster on at&t. The only issue with HSPA+ is it's not been deployed throughout all of at&t's 3g coverage, which btw isn't nearly as large of a footprint as sprint's EVDO-rev a. The other part you fail to mention is verizon also has EVDO-rev.a with a similar coverage map as sprint. But honestly a mini cell tower for you house or basement is a huge win for consumers that want to ditch their land line, but don't get very good cell reception in their home. It doesn't matter which company your with they all will tell you they don't guarantee cell coverage in buildings. I only hope at&t and verizon will someday jump on board with this technology because their is a huge demand for it. But I don't know if verizon ever will, because that would mean they would half to swallow their pride and finally admit that their damn network isn't perfect. Lol

33.$$$ for sprint (unregistered)

I think the idea of this device is fatastic. What I don't like about is that if all sprint phone will be able to use it then the consuer who purchases the device and spends 100.00 for the device (which is nothing by the way, as most decent bluetooth headsets cost more), but it allows other people who didn't pay for the device to use it. At least that is my understanding of it anyways. I would also like to know how seccure it is as far as privacy. Will it be password protected, how many channels will it support for calls; one, two, ten? I also don't like the idea that as a consumer you are helping with sprints poor coverage by spending an extra 5.00/month thru a broadband connect you have to provide elsewhere. If anything, sprint should credit you $5.00/month for taking on the burden of their poor network. Speed isn't anything with connectivity. The idea is great, but the service should be free b/c you are purchasing your own device, and you have to provide your own connection.

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